Ultra high frequency apparatus



July 2, 1946. M. R. RICHMOND 2,403,303

ULTRA-HIGH FREQUENCY APPARATUS- i original Fiied Feb. 25, 1943 2 sheeisfsneei 1 mfg/9%@ 7) HAVEN/V64' Smoentor 11N R. RmHMuND @Mii July 2, 1946. M. R. RICHMOND ULTRA-HIGH FREQUENCY APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 original Filed'eb. 25; 194s ro @fc5/rfa Awww/m 4 A 5g /we/vfreo/v.

nveuntor Gttorneg Patented July 2, 1946 1 Y.' f. 2,403,303 'f ULTRA HIGH FREQUENCY APPARATUS Martin R. Richmond, Washington, D. C., 4assigner' to Radio Corporation of'America, a corpora` tion of'Delaware kOriginal application. February 1.25; 1943, .SeralrNOi 477,167. Divided and this application `October 30, 19.43, .SerialNn 508,332

` 9Clams. (CLe-l-S" This application is a division of my copending improved method of: and 'means for' cntrpll U'.. S. app1ication, Serial Number 471167,.r led simultaneously a power circuit anda wavt'r February 25, 1943,'entitled`Ultra high frequency missioncircuit between a plurality o f resoriv apparatus. chambers in an ultra-high frequency circuiti*-I A Thlsinvention relates vgenerally to ultra-high `5 further Objectis to provide an improvedfinethdj frequency. apparatus and more particularly to duof and means forc'ontrollingfa :powerv circuit'an'di plex` switching apparatus for controlling simulan ultra-high frequency Wave'tra'nsrnliss'ior'i'cir'- taneously separate power and signal circuits ap.- cuitbetween two resonant chambers "whereby/ said plied to different components of a communication control isv provided by a current ydifschargi'e"` system, l between said chambers.` 'A further 4ob ect isto ultrafhigh frequency communication sysprovide an improved method of' and f is for tems.: itI is Often desirable to control simultanecontrolling a power `circuit `and an ultra-#higlfrfrev` Ously the-.application of potentials derived ,from a quency wave transmission :cilIQllli btw IWQ power source to asgnal generator and to. isolate resonant chamberswhereby Said control is 'prof selectively a receiver from a signal source. Due i vided byan ionized pathhetween said chambers;

to peculiarities nherent'n ultra-high frequency Stillfanother object of the invention '.is'ftowprd-,- apparatus, conventional switching means are vide an improved switching device for fa power seldom entirely satisfactory due to undesired. recircuit and an ultra-high frequency circuit 'inactive components which are thus introduced cluding a magnetronvk wherein saidv switching into the associated circuits. The instant. invenmeans includes a wave transmission circuit hav; tion contemplates theI use of a current discharge inga gaseous discharge path which. may be keyed devicey which may bekeyed to provide. a conto providean ionized path transverselyacrosslthe ductivev path` for connecting, the power source to Wavetransmission path,` and in which said, ioniza the signal generator while simultaneously pretior 1j 'interruptedbymeans @variations inthe senting an open circuit. to the signal path. bepotential appliedtothe magnetron tween the received signalv source and the. signal The inventionwillhe describedin. greatr de receiver. Various modliications of the inventail. by reference to the` accompanying .drawings tion will. be describedin detailhereinafter. Howof whichFigure 1 is a block diagram ,of oneemfL ever-al1 involve ,the/.common feature of providing bodiment of .the invention; .Figure 2 'is a :rQss'. simultaneous control of. a currentdischarge'path sectional viewy of an embodiment of the inve -f and. a wave transmission path, such as, for extion; Figure Bisa crossesectionalview along' ample, awave guide or aresonant chamber. This lineAA Vof Figure `2; Figure 4 isV a cross-sectional feature permits higher power control since it sub- View of Va modicatiorfi of the invention; J Figure stantially eliminatesthe power surge, or spike 5 is a cross.-sectiQnalV view ofganother-.modincaf introduced into the wave transmissionpath when tion vof the invention; and Figures aand 'Tare thewave path aloneiskeyed. Y schematic circuit diagrams of.. .modirlofalliQIlS4 Q Among the objects of the invention are to-prothe circuit described ,in Figure 1,.V y,Similar r' vide a, new and `improved method of and means erence numerals are applied to, similar `elem for providing simultaneous switching-of a power throughout thedrawings.` source and a wave transmission path. yAnother 40 .Referring to Figure 1, a transmitter fissure; object of the invention is to provide an improved plied. with operating potential from a transmit: method ofl and means` for providing a duplex ter power source. .2 through a.. duplex `swjsitchillg ultrafhigh frequencyl switching device which devices `of .anyh of thetypes to be described in comprisesfa current discharge path for a power a detail he-,reinai.ter. 4 An antenna, .or other signal source and awave attenuator for a signalY source. 40 source. 4 is connected. to .the input of a..wa.ve Another` object oi the: inventiony is to4v provide .an transmission circuity 5. such as, for..exarnp1c'.9. improved method of andl means for controlling wave guide or a` coaxial transmission,line....'1he simultaneously.theconductivityof-apower transwave transmissionv ycircuit 5. al so iscQnne-cted mission circuit andthe attenuation of an ultrathrough the duplex switching device 3. to ya. signal high frequencywave transmission circuit. Si-,ill 5) responsive device such asa radio receiver 6. A

, another objectof the invention isto provide an source, of.keying pulses lis connected t`o `the improved. method o f and. means for controlling duplex switching device 3. When. 'a keying pulse simultaneously a powerA circuit and awave trans-` from lthe keying source lis appliedtov the duplex mission circuit through' a dielectric wave guide. switch 3, the powercircuit from the power source A further object'of theI inventionv is to provide an 55 21s' 'completed through the switch 3- to the transreceiver B'.

' tube.

receiver 6 from the signal source 4.' During the intervals between keying pulses from the keyer circuit 1,'the power circuit from the transmitter power source 2 to fthe* transmitter I is interrupted at the switch 3, whilethe wave transmiscompleted from the signal source 4 to the signalv mitter I. YVSimultaneously, the wave transmission circuit 5 is effectively interrupted to isolate the `f sion Vcircuit through the transmission line 5 iszj provides alternating potentials or pulsating potentials of varying voltage between some predetermined maximum and zero value. Preferably, the ends of the wave guide 5 should extend as closely ras possible to the envelope Illv in order that the device may bel coupled efciently to eX- ternal transmission circuits.

Y Referring to Figure 4, a device of the general type described in Figures 2 and 3 includes two Figure 2 includes a Vsection of wave guide 5 y having a projection 6 extending. transverselyV across a portion of the wave path.. The'wave guide is entirely enclosed within an evacuated envelope II).` Opposite the' projection Bis a second projection 8 comprising acathode surfacetfM ,which is heated by a heater winding 9. A grid resonant chambers 2|, 22 to which transmission lines 23, 24, respectively, are coupled through the envelope I0. A wave transmission path extends. between theresonant chambers 2l, 22.

The at side 26 of this transmission Wave path may be considered to be the anode of the current discharge device.' A connection to the anodeis ybrought out through a suitable seal in the enelement I I isdisposed inthe aperture formed'in` 4` the guide between the cathode 8 andthe projec` tion 6. Separate leads are brought out throughl AIt should be described constitutes a thermionicdischarge tube in which the projection 6 represents the anode of the tube. The'shape of the aperture formed between the cathode andthe anode elementsjof;

heater, grid'. and wave guide,

thediscliarge tube may be more clearly seen from i the cross-sectional view shown in VFigureB. I -The1 aperture thus formed constitutes a resonant aper ture ofthe-type described in detail in the `@0 1 pending applicationof William D. Hershberger, Serial Number 477,176, led February 25, 1943.l Capacitive elements I2, I3 are disposed adjacent thesupportsof the grid II, to bypass effectively the ultra-high frequencycurrent components in-` duced therein.

- In operation, if the grid electrode I I is biased negatively withV respect to thefcathode 8, vand the anode lIi is positive with respect to the potential on the cathode', substantially'no electron dis-` charge will occur across the gap formed between the cathode Sand anode. resonant at the wave transmissionfrequency, it

Vprovides an `efficient .transfer path through the wave guide 5 for Vwaves introduced into the wave guide. However, if a positive potential isapplied tothe grid electrode II, such as keying vpulses from the keyer circuit 1, a current discharge path occurs racross the gap between the cathode 8and the anode 6 which effectively changes; the reso-v nant characteristics of the resonant aperture formed thereby.. This change in resonance effectively blocks. wave transmission ythrough the wave guide, while it also provides a conductive path'iromv the cathode 8 to the anode l which may' be' utilized for the transmission oi? power Yfrom the power source 2 to the transmitter I.

It should be understood that the envelope Il) may be evacuated to form a vacuum type therm- .ionic tube within the wave guide, or it may be lld with an inert gas at low pressure to provide a tube Vof the Thyratron type of gaseous discharge If the tube just described is of the vacuum type, effective keying of any typeof trans-1- mitter power` 'source may be accomplished by means of positive keying pulses derived from the Since the. aperture is v velopeflll.l A grid structure 2I and a cathode 28,

heated by a heater 29, form the opposite bound ary of the wave transmission path 25. Y A

(The operation of the device shown in Fig. 4

' is vsimilar to that of the device of Figures Zand 3, except that the wave transmission through the Y path 25 is blocked eiiectively bythe conductive path formed by 'the ,current discharge between the cathode 28 and the anode 26. Theinput'line 23 is coupled to thefirst resonant-'cavityrli through a coupling loop 20. The output .trans-v mission line 24 is coupled to the second resonantv -cavity22 by means of a-second coupling loop 30.

It should be understood thatY the current 'discharge, whether electronic or ionic, does not-affect substantially the resonance ofthe 'wave transmission path 25 as in Figures 2 and 3,' butdoes provide an eiective wave reflecting surface between the resonant cavities because oi th'ej conductive discharge path. Suitable leads to the heater, cathode, and grid electrodes mayjbe brought out of the envelope I0 through a second Figure 5 discloses a device similarto that of Figure 4 with the exception that the discharge path occurs asa spark between the electrodes 261 and' 28 which define the wave transmission path between the resonant chambers 2 I and 22.y This;

. modification may also be evacuated or may con# tainan inert gas at low pressure. Y In all of the devices described heretoiore, it should be understood that the wave transmission path is through the particular wave transmission Y device described, while the' power transmission path is between the cathode and anode orcurrent discharge electrodes. `It should also be' understood 'that in each of lthe modifications described,YV the occurrence of a current discharge', `whether electronic or ionic, will provide a conducting pathv whichwill complete the circuit between the power source and the transmitter,while-simultaneously effectively blocking the transmission of signal waves through the Vdevice from the signal source to the signal receiver. v y VFigure 6y is a schematic circuit diagram Yof one applicationof any of the devices described' here` tofore wherein the duplex switch 40 of the 'Thyra-L tron type may be utilized to control the anode potential to a magnetron' 50. Keying pulses, de rived from a keyer circuit 1, apply a positive bias to the grid of the'4 switching tube 4D which initi-l ates a current discharge to complete'thelanode circuit of the magnetron 5U, However, the mag;

netron in this instancey is'edri'ven Vbypositive 191115.65.

tive lpulse 5 I' returns toV zero level, thel .current,dis-A Charge through the switching 4tube MlV thereupon betweenthe anode. ci" the switching tube. 4.0. andv thecathode oi the4 magnetron S511.` When a. positive keying. pulse, from'. the. lteyer .1 initiates .the current discharge throughthe.switching/tube 4d, the conducting path therethrough .provides .aneifectiveshort circuit. on oneend .o f the delay. cir.- cuitLS'llQ. The ,positive potential. which normally exists. atthe. other. end of the delay circuit .54is reflected. as'. a. negative potential which. is, applied,

at a. later interval determined by the constants' of the. delay circuit, to reduce. the potential on the .anode of the switching tube 4D, and thereby interrupt the current discharge,l therein. 'I'he magnetron is. thereby le-energized. until the. next keyingy pulse is. applied to the switching tubegrid, Thus the invention described comprises new and improved methods of .and means for switching simultaneously a'power circuit anda wave transmissioncircuit in response to pulses derived from a, keying source.

I claim as my invention:

1. In av system of the type including a radio transmitter, a radio receiver, a source of operating potential for said transmitter, and a signal source for said receiver, the improvement comprising a duplex ionizable switching device compris-ing means deiining a wave transmission path between said receiver and said signal source and means selectively providing a current discharge path transversely of said wave transmission path, and means including and operable upon said device for applying saidy operating potential to said transmitter and effectively isolating said receiver from said signal source, and for alternately effectively isolating said transmitter from said po- `tential source and effectively coupling said receiver to said signal source.

2. In a system of the type including a radio transmitter, a radio receiver, a source of operating potential for said transmitter, anda signal source for said receiver, the improvement comprising a duplex ionizable switching device comprising means defining a wave transmission path between said receiver and said signal source and means selectively providing a currentl discharge path transversely of said wave transmission path,

and means providing ionization of said device for applying said operating potential to said transmitter and effectively isolating said receiver from said signal source, and alternately providing deionization of said device thus effectively isolating said transmitter from said potential source and effectively coupling said receiver to said signal source. l

3. In a system of the type including a radio transmitter, a radio receiver, a source of operating potential for said transmitter, and a signal source for said receiver, the improvement comprising a duplex ionizable switching device comprising a section of dielectric guide forming a wave transmission path between said receiver and said signal source and means selectively forming a gaseous discharge path transversely across said was@ guidaandmeans providingionization of said de vi'ceLfor applying; said'. operating; patentierte said transmitter and ,effectively isolating sai'dY receiver yfrom saidsignal' source, and" alternately providing dei-ionization of said' device thus effectively' isolating said' transmitter from said potential sourceand effectively coupling said receiver to said siga nalsource..

eL. In a system of thejtype including. a radio transmitter,` a radio receiver, a source of' operating potential for said' transmitter, and: a, signal` source for said' receiver, the improverner'it compri'sing a duplex ionizablfe .Switch-ing, .device comprising a pair of' resonant. chambersmeans pro.

viding a wave (transmission,"pathl .between chambers. for ccuplinasaid receiver to'saidsi v nalv source said. receiver .andsaid source. being coupled. to. difierent'ones' oilfsaidfgchambers; and means selectively Vforming "a gaseous` discharge path transversely. across, said'..cdupling,means` ,or

said resonant chambers tofeiectiitely islatefsai'd chamberaandmeans providingioni'zation of said discharge path .for connecting .said operatingpntential to said transmitter andeflectively solat ing .said receiver from said'signal. source,` and, alsl ternately providing. de-ionization of said. .device thus eli'ectivel'y isolating saidtransmitter from said potentialsource and effectively-coupling said receiver to said signal source-..1

5; In ay system of thletylie4 including. a radio.k

transmitter, a radio receiver, a source of operating potential for said transmitter, anda signal source for said receiver, the improvement comprising a duplex ionizable switching device comprising a pair of resonant chambers, means providing a wave transmission path between said chambers for coupling said receiver to said signal source, said receiver and said source being coupled to diierent ones of said chambers, and means selectively forming a spark discharge path transversely across said coupling means of said resonant chambers to eii'ectively isolate said chambers, and means providing ionization of said discharge path for applying said operating potential to said transmitter and effectively isolating said receiver from said signal source, and alternately providing de-ionization of said device thus eectively isolating said transmitter from f K said potential source and effectively coupling said receiver to said signal source.

6. In a system of the type including'a signal generator, a signal responsive device, a source of erator, means for applying said keyingpulses to initiate said current discharge within said device for applying said operating potential to said signa1 generator and eleotively isolating said signal responsive device from said signalsource, and means including said delay circuit for valternately quenching said current discharge thus effectively isolating said signal generator from said potential source and effectively coupling said signal responsive device to said signal source.

7.. In a system of the type including a signal generator, a signal. responsive device, a 'source of pulsating operating potentiallforv said signal generator, and a signalsource for'saidi signal responsive deviceth'e improvement comprising al duplex keying Ydevice comprising 'a gaseous discharge device comprising meansdeihring a Wave transmissbn path between said receiver and said signal source Vand means selectivelyproviding acurrent discharge 'path' transversely of said Wave transmission path, a source'vo keying pulses, means responsive to saidikeying pulses 'for vinitiating a current dischargewithinisaid gaseous discharge deviceffor applying lsaid. operating potential I to said signal Lgeneratorand effectively isolating said signa responsive device 4from saidsignal source,

l andzxneans `responsive to variatifons in said pulsating operatingvpotential for'VV alternately quenchingY said current ,discharge thuseffectivelv isolating Y a sries'path*tansvefseiyftnrugnsaiq te $aid'-signalfgeneratcr irom'jsaid potetail source v nd'jefiectively coupling said signal responsivedevice to lsaid signal source. l

for use witha power `'circuit anda signal responsive device;` said switching device comprising means including a pair of cooperating cavity resonatorshaving coupling means providing al wave' transmission path. between saidchamb'ers for signals tosaid signal responsive device, means cornprising a c zurreni,v discharge. device disposed Within sfaidfresonator couplingjm'eans and providing means for' said power circuit, andineans fN 'ating'a currentidischarg'e 'said c f charge device vfor completingV said series path and effectively interrupting said signal transmission path for isolating said signals from saidsignal responsive device, and for alternately quenching said current discharge for interrupting said series path and eiectively completing said signal trans-2 mission path.4

9. Af duplex currentv discharge switching Vdevice for use with a power circuit and a signal'responsive device,A said switching device comprising dif-' electric guide means providing awave transmis-I sion path for signals to' said s ignalr esponsivede-A vice, 'means Comprising a gaseous discharge d vice disposed. within said guide andprviding a series Ypath transversely of Asaid 'guide Y"forf saidV Power circuit and 'keying means Operable .upon

. saidgaseous discharge device for initiating cur- A Y rent'discharge in said discharge device forcor'nf pleting'said 'series path and effectively interrupting said signal transmission*path* forisolating said signals from said Ysignal''responsive `devic e; and for alternately quenching -said currentadischarge yfor interrupting saidv'se'r'ies path and jeff-, fectivelvcompletin'g saidsignal Wave transmisi sionpath. 

